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opkins wins Ule Cup By Team Turtle Michigan rider Bob Hopkins rVam), won the Ute Cup with overall score' of 25, just one 'I oint less than Bernie Schreiber . , Bul) and six less than Lane ~ I ;' vitt (Bul). The Ute Cup is an annual ocky Mountain Trails Associa- ion (RMTA) 'two day Scottish trial held in the high mountains of Colorado. A Scottish trial is a series of observed sections connected by a timed trail ride. The winner will accumulate the least penalty points in the observed sections and time penalty points. Because of the difficulty of the trail and observed sections, only accomplished riders are eligible. Trialrnaster Bill Brokaw. assisted by Reo Zentz and Ted Stokes. spent days preparing sections. clearing old trails and wagon roads which had fallen into disuse and building new trails in the Four Mile Creek area near Fairplay. ,\ 11 this was accomplished with the cooperation of the Pike National Forest personnel. Six and one half hours were allotted to ride the Saturday loo p twice before penalty points were given. The loo p contained 20 observed sections with such names as "Slab Happy." "The Cabin," and "Storm Gutter," connected by jeep roads and trails which novice riders would consider tougher than the observed sections they ride back home. The elevation varied from 10,500 feet at the ca mpg ro und to 11.400 feet. Lack of oxygen was the nemesis of some of the I 02 riders who started at one minute intervals at 9:01 Saturday morning. Ninety-three riders started the five-hour Sunday ride: two loops of 16 differen t observed sections. The elevation reached on S unday was 12,500 feet at " The Dismal Forest" after a hairy trai l ride along the f1ank of Sheep Mountain through a mile of scree and boulders. Lane Leavitt turned in the best score on Saturday with II points, followed by Bernie Schreiber with 12. Bob Hopkins and Mike Griffitts were at 13 apiece. With only 12 points separating the first 10 riders, Sunday was shaping up to be very important. Bob Nickelsen (Hon) came from a 10th on Saturday to a fourth overall with only II poin ts on Sunday for a total of 34. Bob was top R1\ITA Expert as well. The best ride on Sunday was turned in by Marland Whaley (Mon) who advanced from 13 t h on Saturday to sixth on Sunday with a loss of only 10 penalty points for overall sco re of 38. Bernie Schreiber could have won it all if he had not ridden just beyond the marker tape in the first section of Sunday's loop. Many others were talking to themselves about little mistakes they made. The observed sections were not dangerous nor "bike breakers," but they were tricky and to most , challenging . T he tria l was dominated by out-of-state riders (only six Colorado riders in the top 20), but this is to be expected with so many "factory" riders competing and such names as Mike Griffitts (1\Ion) fifth. Martin Belair (~lon) seventh, Mark Egger (Mon) eighth and Bruce Ryhti (Yam) ninth. Former California rider Kevin Walker (Bul), second Rl\IT A Expert, was in l Oth with 51.2 overall points. Bob Hop kins received the copper Ute Cup pitcher which was filled with . champagne. from which each year the winner takes his victory drink. The top R~ITA riders rece ived Ho pi sand a i n ti ngS ' the t hree man-club team Michigan) and manufacturers team Montesa] winners each received a Nav-ajo rug, all finishers received a pin the shape of a thunderbird and eac h scorer a small Chimayo (handwoven Indian rug). The top 41 riders will receive a sterling silver medal to be struck expressly for this event. If you would like to know more about next year's Ute Cup, contact your local trials organization. Better yet, become a member and compete, for then you will be able to determine if you are good enough to ride the Ute Cup! • ~ THE SUPERM ILE IS ON KYA presents The UiM NATIONAL L 9